Silay, the cultural and intellectual hub of the province occupies the central portion of Negros Occidental.Its northern and southern boundaries are separated by the Municipality of E.B. Magalona and City of Talisay while its eastern and western boundaries are separated and defined by mountain ranges and Guimaras Strait.Silay is characterized by a broad plain terrain of about seven kilometers in width starting from its coastline and extending inland to about twenty-five kilometers.Beyond this limit are series of rugged hills and mountain ranges.Three rivers with several tributaries criss-crossed the entire area of Silay conducive for crop production.The total population Silay is 107,722 as of May 2000 census which is 4.19% total population of Negros Occidental or around 1.9% of the total population of Western Visayas.Silay has a total land area of 214.8 square kilometers representing 2.71% of the total land area of the Province.It was during the administration of Mayor Romulo Golez when Silay became a Chartered City on June 12, 1957 by virtue ofHouse Bill No. 6069 sponsored by Congressman Carlos Hilado and Jose Puey.Silay City is composed of fourteen barangays each headed by a Barangay Captain under the Barrio Charter Republic Act No. 3590.On May 15, 1985 a referendum was held creating two more, Barangays Patag and Bagtic were created.Silay City has two sugar centrals, the Hawaiian Philippine Company and Aidsisa Sugar Central which are the major contributors to the economy of the city.
Historical Background
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The town of Silay, Negros Occidental was founded about the year 1780 with Don Tomas Quilangit as the duly appointed Gobernadorcillo of the town.The seat of the town during that time was in Guinhalaran.During his administration, he was insulted and assaulted by an Alferez of the infantry of the Spanish Government.His pride was greatly hurt and to vindicate his dignity, which was unjustly tramped, raised his hands against the official and stabbed him to instantaneous death.This caused much consternation, leading to his execution in the scaffold.
In 1780-1781, Don Alejo Severino of Jaro, Iloilo was named the first Gobernadorcillo of the new settlement.The seat of Spanish Government of this province at that time was in Himamaylan.By the order of the Military Governor of the Province, Don Alejo Severino was directed to make frequent trips to the northern town to investigate and look after their condition.After fulfilling his missions, he would stay in Silay.His goodwill and character gained the sympathy of the inhabitants and to prove their appreciation and admiration, asked the higher authorities of the province that Don Alejo Severino be named Gobernadorcillo of Silay.Thus, as the head of local government of Silay, he was able to construct the Catholic Church made of wood, bamboo, and nipa.He also constructed the Catholic Cemetery about a kilometer away from the town.The Parish Priest if the said church was Spanish Priest Padre Alejo Ignacio de Molinas.
